Each month our blogger Kathryn Johnstone will share her product reviews, training tips, swimming memories and experiences with you to try and provide a small insight into the life of an elite athlete and to try and help you with your swimming future. Kathryn is a newly retired elite swimmer from Scotland and represented her country at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 50m & 100m breaststroke. Kathryn has also represented Great Britain at the 2015 World University Games and the 2011 & 2012 Berlin World Cups, winning Silver in the 50m breaststroke at the 2012 meet. Whilst swimming, Kathryn graduated High School and college, completed an undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Heriot Watt and is currently studying a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning from The University of Edinburgh! Below, Kathryn introduces herself with some facts so we can get to know her a bit better. So without further ado, over to you Kathryn.

Hello. I was thinking of the best way to introduce myself and thought keeping it short and sweet is probably the best way to do so. I’ve thought of some things you need to know about myself to better understand my life and to fully introduce you to who I am!

THE NORMAL STUFF

Name: Kathryn Johnstone

Known as: Kathy

Age: 27

From: Cowdenbeath

Lives: Edinburgh

Starting Swimming: Aged 7 (with Carnegie Swimming Club)

Retired from swimming: Aged 27 (with The University of Edinburgh)

Best Stroke: Breaststroke

Best Event: 50m & 100m

Sporting Idol: Anthony Ervin

Anthony Ervin

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Colour: Purple

Animal: Elephant

Book: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

TV Show: Friends (can still quote it all)

Film: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

Actor: Tom Hardy

Actress: Emma Stone
Band: Thirty Seconds To Mars

Training Camp: Perth Australia 2016

Quote: Work Until Your Idols Become Your Rivals

Piece of Swimming Kit: snorkel and fingers paddles (combined)

School Subject: Geography

Pet: Our cats. We’ve had 4: Squeaky, Spooky, Alfie & Charlie.

Drill In The Pool: Scull with pull-buoy at ankles

Perth, Aus '16

THINGS I DISLIKE

Event: Any backstroke event

Injury: Torn disc in back

Vegetable: Brussel sprouts

School subject: Chemistry

Sports: Anything that involves catching a ball…

Scared of: Spiders. The small ones!

Piece of Swimming Kit: sponge

Thing to Do In Training: Kick. I’m terrible at kick!

Kathryn Johnstone and Evie Edwards

FUN FACTS

  • I’ve never won a game of monopoly. Ever.
  • I have 4 tattoos
  • I only started competitive swimming because my older sister Jennifer did
  • I failed Higher Chemistry twice. I did worse the second time…
  • I’ve only ever swam for two clubs. Carnegie and The University of Edinburgh
  • I was the first person to hold the East District (of Scotland) record for 1500m Freestyle (short course)
  • If you have any questions for me, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and I shall try and reply. You can also follow me on social media:

Instagram: Kathy_swim

Twitter: Kathy_swim

Introducing Kathryn Johnstone: August 30th, 2017 by Kathryn Johnstone